Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What does the term phenotype refer to?

1. The genetic makeup of an organism

2. The physical expression of inherited traits

3. The process of natural selection

4. The environment affecting genetics

The correct answer is: The physical expression of inherited traits

The term phenotype refers to the physical expression of inherited traits in an organism. This encompasses observable characteristics such as appearance, behavior, and other physical attributes that result from the interaction of the organism's genotype—its genetic makeup—with the environment. The phenotype is what one can see or measure, such as eye color, height, or the presence of certain physical features, when looking at an individual. Understanding phenotype is essential in fields such as genetics, biology, and medicine because it helps illustrate how specific genes can lead to tangible attributes in an organism. The other choices provide different concepts: genetic makeup relates to an organism’s genotype; natural selection is a process affecting evolution; and environmental influences on genetics pertain to how external conditions can alter or impact phenotypic expressions. Each of these elements plays a role in the broader context of biology, but they do not define the term phenotype itself.